Fly Fishing Net Build - Steelhead Net

This is my largest custom handmade fishing net to date. A friend asked if I could make a show-stopper net befitting a beautiful Pacific Northwest steelhead, so naturally I accepted the challenge. This mid length handle is made from guitar grade, quilted figured maple and features a handpainted and airbrushed steelhead smolt in the end. The hoop is made from 5 strips of curly maple and bent around an all new form for my shop.
I am loving how this turned out, and my friend is absolutely blown away with the result.
Below are some links to products folks commonly ask about in my net builds (not affiliate links, just stuff I trust to make solid, heirloom nets). If you have been considering net making as a hobby, I highly recommend jumping into it. There are so many ways to make them your own and they make an amazing gift for loved ones and friends.
Thanks for watching, commenting, and subscribing!
Brass lanyard swivels: www.amazon.com...
Hoop channel router bit: flyfishingnets...
Net basket options: flyfishingnets...
Daly's Ship n' Shore sealer: www.dalyswoodf...
#flyfishing #fishingnet #steelhead

[@TotalBoat]

Amazing work - it is beautiful!!!

[@pgsibilo]

Awesome 💯💯💯

[@iwantosavemoney]

This is so awesome sir I really like to idea of building stuff for others and the by far the coolest thing in my opinion is to put their name on it no matter what it is I think it brings more meaning for them.

[@PaleHorseRider1SG]

Incredible! I just retired from the military and you just inspired me to try my hand at something like this. Those are absolutely beautiful!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Congratulations! Thank you for serving our country. I think you’ve earned some good shop time and river time to test out a handmade net! If you’re on Instagram, please share your net build progress shots with me. I honestly think you’ll love the process and creativity of net making.

[@ryanmitchell6760]

I would like to see a video on how you make and size the form to different sized nets. Also I’m struggling with handle widths for running strips the full length. Thank you - beautiful work!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I have a template making video in the works now! Stay tuned! As for strip length, I run to sizes of simple steam boxes to cover my bases: 60” and 80”. Most net hoops need the 60”, while the latest net required the 80” with little to spare. I’ll cover this as well. Thanks for watching!

[@fouroakscrafts7240]

Wow - very nice! That's a lot of craftsmanship.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you very much!

[@shawnfreeman4768]

Love all your videos especially the fish carvings

[@mrwehethefourth]

I love the net builds! More please!

[@adrianrobles838]

Beautiful work. You have inspired me to build mine. What advice would you give your self if you can go back in time when you first started. Or what are the most crucial things you learned along the way.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

If I could go back, I would say err on the side of more net hoop strips over thicker strips. This has come into play with several of my nets over the years where I wanted to go with thicker strips and the resulting bend ended up breaking them. Yes, you can steam them to kingdom come and get the bend you want, but to start (and as good practice) use more strips (usually 5) that are just under 1/8” thick each. A quick 25-30 min steam time and you’ll bend beautifully with minimal heartbreak. I choose fairly figured woods for my hoop material, which often figuring means a (beautiful) defect in the material-and defects can mean stress/breaking. Thinner materials can help with this. Thanks for watching!

[@johnshand6176]

Inspirational! I do admire your beautiful net and video presentation. I bought a lovely net from a quality builder in Tasmania and it gives me so much pleasure using it for large Rainbows and Browns on the Tongariro River down under in NZ. I am sure whoever uses this one will gain similar pleasure from your exquisite build. Regards from NZ.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you for the kind words, and I also hope he gets a lifetime of good stories with the net alongside.

[@Mozzamen]

Veramente bellissimo,hai una grande manualità!!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Grazie mille!

[@stefanoflocchini7805]

Was that a marine varnish type finish you put on it cause it looks really nice. Good job on your part. Love it.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I use a product called Ship n’Shore from Daly’s. It’s pretty easy to get ahold of online and a little bit goes a long ways. I use it on all kinds of projects that need a good harder base prior to finish. Basically, once a project is sanded, I apply it and re-sand lightly and you’re ready for any kind of finish.

[@turbo2275]

Dig your work my friend, Are you using only air dried wood, or do you use kiln dried. And if you use kiln dried, are you soaking first?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Great question. For this particular net, the handle material is air dried, but inside a friends home for 3+ years (so basically kiln dried); the hoop material was from a piece of kiln dried curly maple from my local wood distributor.

[@TheMorebravo]

Hi mate, do you think it would be possible incorporate an inlaid magnet in the head of the net. I'm assuming you'd need to bulk up the head a little to leave enough material to drill.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

If you mean for a quick-release lanyard, yes. I think there would be enough, and that is something I should attempt in the future! I have always had a fear that my super nice net would detach and go floating downstream before I ever noticed, but it's totally worth a try!

[@gordonkochan6660]

I never would turn down more net building videos . Where is a good reliable supplier for the net basket used in this video? I am in Canada and haven't been able to locate that type here

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I put a link to a great net resource in the video description called Nets that Honor the Fish, you can also get net baskets of all sizes from Janns Net Craft online, and of course Amazon by searching: catch and release silicone net basket. Those will turn up some good options for you 👍

[@silenthwoodworks8672]

I’d like to see a Muskie net. Go big, right?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

That’s a natural next step for sure! We have just a few lakes around here with tiger musky in them, so I am sensing a fun build/fish challenge in my future!

[@silenthwoodworks8672]

I know there is a good market in the northern WI for that sort of thing. Either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what you create next.

[@larryohara6513]

Do you need to steam those laminate pieces? can you get away with just soaking?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The strips get a 30 minute steam in the steam box and are then pre-bent around the form for a few hours. They're then ready for glue up and an overnight dry time. Soaking will certainly have the same effect, just probably want to keep them in the pre-bent stage overnight before glueing.

[@justincase4792]

Do vintage fishing nets have any value?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

You know, I don’t actually know if they do. Value is what you hold for something in most cases, so to me anything handcrafted with care holds a great value.

[@justincase4792]

@@RiverbendWoodworks thank you.